March 14, 2016 By Alusine Sesay
The Environment Protection Agency –Sierra Leone (EPA-SL) – has trained over 30 journalists in effective communication on environmental management at the Harry Yansaneh Hall, Sierra Leone Association of Journalists headquarters, in Freetown.
Deputy Director of Field Operations and Education, Syl Brians Kamara, said environmental issues are cross cutting, adding that they need the inputs of other institutions like the media to educate the public and raise alarm on harmful human activities.
He said that due to the importance they attach to the media, they thought it wise to train journalists on how to gather, process and accurately disseminate information regarding the environment.
He said the institution was always open to the public and that journalists should endeavour to crosscheck and fact check information before they go to press.
Assistant Deputy Director of Natural Resources Management and Geographic Information System, Samuel Kamara, said their department is the hub of the agency and that they are central in the decision-making process.
Their mandates, he said, includes to establish a data bank of natural resources management, liaise with line ministries, department and agencies to ensure the integration and successful application of the principles of ecological sustainable development to natural resources.
He said they were also mandated to oversee natural resources management process, internalise natural resources costing, plan for the rehabilitation of mined-out land and plan management of open space.
He said they have established a state of the environment and state of the marine environment report, which would be out by the end of March.
Assistant Head of Information, Communication and Education, Abdul Conteh, facilitated a session on effective communication and environmental journalism.